*** the list date or deadline for this position has passed, and no new applications will be accepted. ***

Requirements:
• Ph.D. in Sociology by July 1, 2018
• Evidence of teaching excellence in undergraduate education
• Evidence of the ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively
• Experience and training with Active Learning pedagogy strongly preferred
• Evidence of an active research agenda (area open)
• Willing to make a two-year commitment to the Department

Salary (non-negotiable): $70,000 per year with benefits and health insurance. $2,500 per year in research funds.

The Department of Sociology at Cornell seeks to hire a postdoctoral scholar for a two-year position starting July 1, 2018. The postdoc will help us implement and assess an “active learning” teaching initiative in large introductory lecture courses in Sociology. The goal of this initiative is to improve learning outcomes, increase student engagement in class, narrow existing inequalities in outcomes by demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and contribute to academic knowledge on active learning teaching methods. The postdoc is an ideal position for a recent PhD who wants to hone his or her teaching skills and become competitive for tenure-line positions in elite liberal arts colleges and other teaching-focused institutions.

The postdoc will be responsible for developing and implementing active learning exercises for lectures and discussion sections, collecting baseline data on courses before active learning is implemented, and collaborating on analyzing the data gathered. In coordination with the Program Coordinator and course instructor, the postdoctoral fellow will help to devise assessment tools based on the course’s learning goals, and to collect baseline and post-treatment data using these tools. He or she will help to analyze these data and publish the results in a teaching-focused journal (e.g., Teaching Sociology). The postdoc will also develop a permanent and searchable database of active learning exercises for the department. He or she will work closely with the course instructor and the Active Learning Program Coordinator, each of whom are tenure-line faculty members in Sociology, and receive training in active learning approaches from Cornell’s Center for Teaching Excellence.

In order to facilitate the postdoc’s professional development and longer-term career success, the postdoc will also develop and teach a small, upper division seminar in the postdoc’s area of expertise. When possible, we will also provide an opportunity for the postdoc to advise undergraduate research.

To support the postdoc’s own research agenda, the position includes a small research account that can be used to purchase data not already available in Cornell’s data archive and Restricted Access Data Center, hardware or software not already under site license, travel to conferences, or other allowable research expenses. The postdoc will be encouraged to integrate into the intellectual community of scholars in the Department, the two associated research centers (Center for the Study of Inequality, Center for the Study of Economy and Society), and the broader University.

We anticipate that the postdoc will spend about 65% of his or her time on teaching-related work, including the evaluation component, and 35% on his or her own research.

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University’s heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose, and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.

Application Materials Required:

Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:

Cover Letter

Curriculum Vitae

Research Statement

Teaching Statement

Writing Samples

Evidence of teaching effectiveness (syllabi, course evaluations)

Two Reference Letters (to be submitted by the reference writers at this site )